After Hours at Windsor Castle

A few years ago, my family and I attended a small, exclusive evening tour after hours at Windsor Castle. After hours tours are still available today, although you definitely need to book early to get a place (more details at the end of the post). Taken by experienced guides, after hours tours offer by The Royal Collection allow you to enjoy the wonders of the castle without the crowds. Our tour was a wonderful experience, and I’d like to share it with you once again.

Windsor Castle is one of the oldest complete castles in England, and one of the largest inhabited castles in the world. Begun in 1066, it has evolved over the centuries into a veritable fortress. Said to be HM The Queen’s favourite castle, she spends much of her time there.

Visiting Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is open to the public on selected days throughout the year, but there are also a few exclusive after hours at Windsor Castle tours. These allow you to go round the castle in a smaller group (usually of less than 25 people) after it has been closed to the public in the evening. Experienced warders take the group round, and the velvet ropes usually come down, so you can get right up close to the amazing furniture and artwork. Of course, you must not touch anything, but there is something about being able to study the detail on George IV’s desk as he would have seen it and walk right up to the monarch’s throne that really does invoke awe.

Heightened Security

Security is always tight at Windsor Castle but I really noticed it that evening. Photographs were not allowed, and as the late Queen was in residence during our tour, the police outside were armed with very large guns. As we arrived at the ancient gates not normally used for entry by the public, the phone in the gatehouse rang. The guard who was helping us looked behind us and up towards the balconies of the castle. I followed his gaze and saw one of his colleagues holding a very large gun. “No, no, it’s all right, stand down, they’re on a tour”, the guard who was helping us replied.

Features of Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is grand, with massive rooms, high ornate ceilings and gorgeous crystal chandeliers, but some of the rooms are cozy as well. There’s the small dressing room that Charles 2 preferred to sleep in instead of his bedroom because it was warmer – and perhaps also because of the secret door carved into the wall that allowed him to slip downstairs to the rooms where his mistresses slept! The room Charles IV used as his office is huge, the walls lined with large paintings by Rubens and his school, but its dark green silk walls make it feel warm and inviting.

No one can forget the harrowing scenes of Windsor Castle alight in November 1992, the flames visible for miles as fire destroyed a large part of the castle.  St George’s Hall, the spiritual home of the famous Order of the Garter was virtually completely destroyed, along with a large section of State Rooms. However all has now been beautifully restored. Huge care was taken – some rooms were even decorated from the notes left by nineteenth century interior designers to ensure authenticity. St George’s Hall has been rebuilt in oak, and looks much as it must have done when it was first constructed hundreds of years ago. Looked over by a massive statue of the King’s Champion at the far end, the ceiling is decorated with the crests of every Knight of the Garter all through history.

After Hours Tours

If you can tour Windsor Castle around Christmas time, some of the rooms are decorated for the season. In 2011 the theme was a Victorian Christmas. A beautiful painting of an aging Queen Victoria over the fireplace in the dining room looked down  on to a real-life table laid as she would have seen it in her youth. Her own china, in beautiful blues, pinks and golds, graced the table setting, and huge silver bowls overflowed with fruit. In the next room, the chandelier had been removed to allow a fully lit Christmas tree to be hung from the ceiling, and the side tables laid with gifts as they would have been in the days when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert celebrated the season with their children.

The tour ended in the last room to be refurbished after the fire. In the centre of the beautiful marble floor, made up of stone from all around the UK, Prince Charles laid a commemorative coin to mark the occasion. We were told he ‘stuck it down with superglue’ to prevent children trying to prise it out!

As our tour left each room, the yeoman warder turned the lights off and switched on the laser security system in each room before he shut the doors behind us. As we left the last room, I turned back to see the grand staircase we had walked up at the beginning of the tour in darkness, and felt like I had seen part of this wonderful castle asleep. We were then invited to enjoy a glass of champagne in the gift shop, where I treated myself to a Christmas ornament and a beautiful teacup from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee china range. It’s hard to believe that 14 years have passed since our after hours tour that night.

Visiting Windsor Castle in 2025

Opening hours are subject to change as Windsor Castle is a working royal castle. There are often long queues, so do book your tickets in advance on the Royal Collection Trust website.

It’s always a pleasure to visit Windsor Castle, but if you do get a chance to take one of the exclusive after hours at Windsor Castle tours, it is very special indeed. They book up very quickly, so it is a good idea to subscribe to the Royal Collection Trust mailing list and keep an eye on your email if you would like to attend.

More Information About Visiting Royal Castles and Palaces

More About Windsor Castle and St George’s Chapel

Visiting Kensington Palace

Visiting Buckingham Palace

This post contains my honest opinions and the advice I give to friends. None of our experiences were gifted and we paid all our own expenses. Information is correct to the best of my knowledge at the time of writing, and  every effort is made to ensure it remains up to date, however I am not responsible for any changes that may occur post publication or for your experience. Always visit venue websites for opening times, their full terms and conditions, and to check prices, availability and payment terms.